Dec 17 2008
Dear Author’s Big News
As you know, I have considered running ads in 2009 to fund the purchase of ebook readers for the Dear Author reviewers. I thought it would be smart, given how we advocate for ebook reading every Sunday, that we all are reading in ebook format as much as we possibly can – kind of walking the talk. We reached out to Sony and asked if they might be interested in developing a relationship with Dear Author and they are.
Sony is very interested in connecting to romance readers and recognize our value to the ebook reading community. In exchange for outfitting the Dear Author reviewers, Sony will received advertising here and we will be providing a buy link to their site whenever there is an ebook available at the Sony eBook store.
What’s even better is the Sony is going to provide us with a couple extra Readers to give away to the Dear Author readership. I promise you that this won’t change our candid assessment of all the hardware out there, but as you can see from my past posts, I think the Sony Reader is a smart device that is well suited to those wanting dedicated eBook readers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see from Sony in terms of sales, reader bundles, or even software/hardware features for the Sony Reader, come forth and let us know. I’ll try to pass along as many suggestions as I can.
Send to Kindle
Dec 17, 2008 @ 23:44:47
Congrats. I think it’s a smart move for all concerned.
I’m not too worried about that. If you’re going to advocate for e-books, you should be consuming them as much as possible.
Perhaps you could ask Sony whether they’ve considered rental or loaner programs at public libraries, universities, and airports: all places with concentrations of readers. If I could rent a pre-loaded Sony Reader at the airport next week before spending all day in the air, I would pay a premium to put six books and two magazines on one device rather than pack all that paper in my carry-on.
Oh, and since I’m wishing, I’d like a crossword that no one’s already finished. That would improve the flight too.
Dec 17, 2008 @ 23:49:12
Very cool. Merry Christmas, Dear Author :-D
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:07:05
This is great — and I think Sony is getting the greater value in this deal.
Good for you!
I’m still a “real” book reader — except that I buy Lynne Connally PDFs. In fact I got that new re-issue, and I can’t find it on my computer now! so I guess some kind of e-reader is in my future.
I’ll bet there are a lot of people like me who haven’t decided yet.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:17:10
I have to admit I’m in love with the red ones — can’t help coveting them every time I walk past the Sony store in the mall…
I hope Sony plans to come out with more colours, in time. Silver may be nice and neutral, but it’s also kind of bland.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:36:17
Dear Author,
How wonderful and generous of Sony to do this!! I’ve gotten a few books in eformat, but have difficulty reading them on my computer because the light on my comp hurts my eyes. Plus, I could go to another room to read instead of being here where the light from my computer is probably disturbing my hubby who has to get up early to work.
What do I need to do to be eligible?
Thanks,
Julie
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:42:44
I love my Sony E-reader. I read mostly on paper — but when I’m traveling the e-reader beats packing eight or nine books with me.
Best,
Patty
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:43:17
I saw my first functioning Sony reader today on a Books-a-Million display and, man, am I really wanting one now! In spite of my loathing of DRM and need for a multi-format reader.
I’m going to have to take another look at the old posts about hardware and re-evaluate. I don’t read mainstream books in e, but I do need an easier way to read my epub books.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 00:52:52
Congrats on the new relationship. Very cool.
But, man, I have to get an ebook reader. I feel like the chubby kid on the playground who gets picked last for kickball. Hate feeling left out of the fun…
Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:03:12
Know what you mean. My husband calls me quaint. So it’d be really nice to get one and catch up with technology. Julie
Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:29:38
Congrats, Jane and DA! Nice Christmas presents ;-).
Dec 18, 2008 @ 02:13:05
Pretty great about the new relationship. And nope, I never thought for a second it would make you go easy on them. ;-)
My plea to Sony is to have the E-reader work with the Mac, without requiring Parallels. Please. Pretty please. With sugar on top. While I am pleased that I can use the Sony E-reader at all with my Mac, it’s kind of a pain to be running Parallels all the time. I’d love to be able to use my e-Reader without resorting to Parallels.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 04:13:33
Can you use the link to buy from the ebook store if you aren’t in the US?
Dec 18, 2008 @ 05:31:15
I just love the idea that you can read ebooks without staring at the computer monitor for long than I already do at work. The Sony Reader is the only thing even on my Christmas list, but for some reason, everyone laughs when I tell them that. >:( Oh, well, I guess when I pay off my car (next month, woohoo!), fix my car, and can buy new glasses, THEN I will begin saving for some kind of ebook reader.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 05:59:05
It’s fantastic for you guys. What a great idea! What an entrepreneur! If I decide to go with the Sony, I know where I will be buying it.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 06:04:26
Congrats on the new relationship — can you pass something on to them — a better website that moves faster!!!!!!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 06:12:50
I second Collette’s plea about the Mac! More colors would be awesome too…
Dec 18, 2008 @ 06:44:15
It’s very smart of Sony to provide DA with the readers and to offer a couple extra. A good way to reach readers who might not ever have the chance to get one of their own.
I can only suggest they make the readers less expensive as I haven’t used one to give any other ideas. I can agree with reading on my PC creates eye strain but it doesn’t stop me from doing so. I love e-books. Instant gratifaction plus I don’t need to have my husband build me more book shelves!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:00:55
I’ve been thinking a lot about getting an ereader lately, especially on my recent trip to Costa Rica. However, I only had time to read one book while I was there (I brought two) and I also realized that I wouldn’t be able to continue reading in the air during the take-off and landing parts when “all electronic devices must be turned off and stowed.” That can be at least 20 minutes each time. Sort of a bummer to have to put your book away early when it’s really good and helping to distract you from the crying baby/drooling man/chatty woman next to you.
Now if the prices continue to drop, I would reconsider. But then, I don’t even own an iPod yet…
Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:12:01
Wow! A great deal for everyone involved. And I do love that red Sony ereader. I have never seen it in person, only online, and that’s probably a good thing for my wallet.
I have two thoughts to share with Sony:
The price of a good ereader is still quite prohibitive for most consumers. And the price of the ebooks in many cases is only a little less than the paper version. Where is the incentive to make this drastic change?
How can we get ebooks into the mainstream library system? My library offers audio books which automatically expire after 3 weeks on your device. It seems to me ebook files could work the same way.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:48:25
My husband and I each have an ebookwise, but I have been staring longingly at the Sony for a few months. The thing that holds me back is the glare on the screen issue, so Sony really need to get a handle on that problem. If it weren’t for that, I would have asked for one of those for Christmas.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:08:45
What great news!! Congrats!
I have been seriously considering getting a Sony Reader. My research shows it would be the best fit for me. Just gotta talk myself into spending the money; the price point is still high.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:34:14
Way to go!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:44:29
That is a great idea! Merry Christmas!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:48:00
Congratulations on your new partnership! Awesome. Just this morning I was thinking I know what I want for either Chrismas or my birthday next year, and e-reader!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:49:26
That’s an excellent deal for you guys. Congratulations!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 08:56:16
That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!. Great news and I already have a Sony Reader and love it. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You deserve it because your articles about ebook software and hardware and so forth and so on, etc, etc are clear and concise and made me give ebooks a try several years ago.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:06:59
OMG! See what I missed yesterday?! This is a brilliant partnership, Jane. Unless I’m mistaken, won’t this make Sony the first eReader manufacturer to reach out specifically to the Romance community? Smart move on their part.
My suggestion to Sony would be to pay attention to what READERS want and how READERS use the device. Getting technogeeks to ooh and ahh is all fine and dandy for initial buzz on a product. But for the long haul, long after the technogeeks have moved on to the next shiny, listen to people that actually buy and read a LOT of books- like the DA Team and most of us in the Romance community. And they are headed in the right direction with the inclusion of a light and text capabilities on the 700 while still keeping the device portable and attractive.
But first and foremost, Sony needs to let go of that utopian ideal of people buying the Sony Reader then shopping for ebooks at the Sony store. In real life, we have extensive EXISTING elibraries, we shop for ebooks on multiple online sites, and we want to get those ebooks onto the Sony Reader without jumping through a lot of hoops. So, support more file types please- particularly LIT. It would be great if you could work with Microsoft so you could support DRM’d LIT ebooks too, but even non-DRM’d LIT support would make me a happy reader.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:09:02
Wonderful! Nice to see that Sony understands the power of DA in the reading/writing community! WTG!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:13:35
second, third, fourth about having the Sony compatible with a Mac. I’m thinking of buying a small PC laptop just for my ebook readers. I broke down and ordered the red Sony PRS 505 a few weeks ago. It’ll be waiting for me when I get home from Vietnam. I’m traveling with my ebookwise right now. I have about 50 books on it and it’s saved me so much luggage space by not packing paper books.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:28:05
I do love my little old PDA, but I have serious covets for the Sony Reader. I can’t afford one until they go down in price, though.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:35:00
Ooh! I am drooling and salivating at just the thought of owning a Sony E Reader!
How can we become eligible for this precious prize?
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:45:13
This would be my wish as well. Support of more formats could only make the Sony more of a reader lots of people want to get.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:48:12
I’d like to see Sony add more formats as well. Maybe its store could offer more formats if it wants to be Amazon-esque in terms of a bookstore.
In regards to the e-libraries, most libraries offer Adobe format as a lending format and Sony does read Adobe DRM’ed books. The NYPL offers a $100 per year library membership to anyone in the US, I believe, and this allows you to borrow from its ebook library.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 09:58:34
@BevQB: I think the MS Lit problem is that the Reader runs Linux and MS Lit is a Windows based program so Reader would have to purchase the license for Windows CE for each of its Reader, causing the Reader to cost more. (This is what I believe to be true from past discussions about MS Lit and not confirmed information from Sony).
It might also be true that other reading programs charge a licensing fee for use of its program on a device. I don’t really know.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:04:52
Kudos, Jane. If Sony is listening to this forum, please know that I would be ALL OVER the Sony E-Reader if it worked with Macs.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:10:30
I’m thinking that our “contest” will require you to go to the Sony site and read about the Sony Reader and answer some questions about its features. Then, out of the correct applications, I’ll pick a random winner.
We’ve got 3 to give away and we’ll give 1 away in January. We are going to give one away for our annual DA BWAHA tournament. I haven’t decided what to do with the 3d one. (i.e., how to give it away yet).
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:10:37
Congrats on the new partnership. It’s a testament to the candid and fair observations and reviews DA provides the romance community. The fact that Sony recognizes the strength of your readership here is a high compliment to everyone at DA. Congrats again.
Monica
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:12:26
Here’s my article about library ebooks.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:24:56
Mac compatibility, PLEEEEZE. Let me be the nth person to ask for that. And I don’t mean parallels, either.
I seriously heart my Red Sony. Despite the parallels thing.
Jane, on the individual book links (and kickbacks to you from Sony), is there any way for you to get a subsidy for a larger range books if we go to Sony from your site? That is, if I don’t want the linked book, but I go to Sony from DA, can you get credit for the books I buy? Even just for romances? I would definitely buy more from them if that were the case.
The Harlequin tie-up is a good start. If they’re not willing to go to a flat 10% discount to match Harlequin, they should at least have more books at that rate, or have the discount in the first week of release, or something. I would rather buy from them than eHarlequin or the other ebook sites, but are more expensive and it’s not worth it to me just to have better formatting.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:29:26
@Jane: Ah, so my dream of LIT compatibility might be dead? Do you think a resident conversion program would also require Windows too? Maybe I’m asking that question wrong- does the Sony take certain file formats and convert them to it’s own native format? If so, I wonder if a copy of Windows would be necessary to convert LIT in the same way.
BTW, that post you are linking to in comment #38? Well, I live about an hour outside of Cleveland and never knew I could join Clevenet. In addition to me, you also made my daughter and niece very happy. Even though our local library is part of a state-wide e-network, Clevenet’s selection is so much more extensive. So, belated thanks, Jane!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:15:52
Very cool idea, Jane. I’ll be looking forward to hearing more. I’ve been wary of e-readers and just haven’t decided yet. I love the feel and smell of books so much I’m not sure I could ever switch.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:48:40
This was a great idea for a partnership and I’m sure will be very helpful to your reviewers, your site, and to Sony also. Congratulations!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:50:17
Hey Jane, I think the previous poster was referring to their own personal elibrary and not libraries in general…I think or that’s what I assumed when reading it. I could be wrong. If it had not been for Calibre – I wouldn’t have been able to add my library to the Sony Reader to make it a viable purchase. But I do plan to use the Sony store more often now if you guys will get some type of kickback from it.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:53:05
Mac compatibility without having to run Parallels. My computer is much too old for that, and I’m too broke to buy a new one. Other formats so I can buy at all the e-pubs. (I know it can be done, but I don’t have the time, or frankly the interest in converting or stripping or whatever the hell it’s called. If I wanted complicated I wouldn’t have a Mac. Nor do I want to have to download some software and worry about it running on my 5 yo Mac. In all likelihood it won’t.) As things stand, I’ll probably get a mini-computer instead of a Sony reader for these very reasons. Bottom line is, keep it as simple as possible, remember we’re readers, not techo-geeks. I don’t want to have to call out the Geek Squad every time I need to download a book.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:53:56
@Keishon I don’t think we get a kickback on the Sony book purchases. We will get a small percentage of any hardware device sale through the ad link on the right.
I’m definitely going to do a post on Calibre and getting books on the Sony Reader. Thanks for clarifying the issue for me. I would love to see eReader on the Sony since then you can get the book on your iphone, desktop and dedicated reading device.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:55:05
@Keishon Also, I think that readers should always buy books from the cheapest place possible!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 12:03:42
What an amazing idea!!
Congrats to Dear Author (and Sony) for what hopes to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!!!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 12:10:00
I love my Sony eReader, best money I ever spent. I tend to buy my books directly from the publisher and deal with all sorts of formats. There are simple free programs available on line that will convert LIT files and other file formats to RTF format and Sony has no problem with RTF files at all.
My biggest plea to Sony is to allow users to edit/change/add the name of the book and author once it has been imported into your eReader and elibrary as now you are stuck with whatever was in those fields when the file was first created for publication (what appears when you click on Properties). So once in a while you get things like – working title or doc1216 – instead of the book’s name or – Sissygirlbird – or some other strange name instead of the author’s pen name or it is just blank, all of which leaves you clueless when looking up your books in your reader and elibrary, especially if you are like me and keep over 200 books cycling in and out of the ereader most of the time.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 14:58:44
I too would love one of these, as my financial status seems to be going backward then rather forward, it will be some time before I can afford $300. Also, if it doesn’t already, they need to add Adobe so, for example, Ellora’s Cave pdf’s can be read on it (I don’t think they are DRM’d)
Now I know what I should have put on my list to Santa. *cries*
Dec 18, 2008 @ 15:29:40
Can you download manuscripts on it? I’ve read that this is a big selling point with the Kindle for some agents. I would just like the convenience of being able to carry one device with several books on it if I were planning a trip or something.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 15:32:03
@Margay: I know that the Sony supports RTF so I believe you could add any manuscript that was once in a Word doc format. You’d save it to an SD card and then pop the card into your Sony Reader.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 15:36:24
That’s good to know. Thanks for posting!
Dec 18, 2008 @ 15:47:03
@BevQB: “Sony needs to let go of that utopian ideal of people buying the Sony Reader then shopping for ebooks at the Sony store. In real life, we have extensive EXISTING elibraries”
This is what’s holding me back from buying a dedicated ereader. I’m not going to buy a reader for each ebook format that I own. (And I don’t want the hassle of converting them all or the annoyance of reading the resulting poorly formatted books.) I’m going to buy a reader that reads them all. [That sounds like a good slogan - "One reader to read them all." :) ]
Dealing with existing libraries is going to be an ongoing problem for ereader manufacturers because as ebooks become more widespread more potential customers are going to have existing libraries. As it is, they’re limiting their customer pool to readers just getting into ebooks or those who happened to have always used the Sony format.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:00:09
Wow…cool for you, ladies!
I’m lusting after one of those red readers, but mine still works just fine so it’s one of those things I can’t justify…
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:04:41
Dear Sony (er, I mean, Santa),
thank you for partnering with DA. They are great. Please be nice to them.
Now, for important things, like what I want for Christmas… can you please please please please please sell your eReader in Australia? We read books too. We can only buy the Iliad which is like, a bazillion dollars and, from reviews, not very good. I want a Sony. I love Sony. We have a Sony LCD TV (a big one). I have a Sony mobile phone. See, I love Sony and I like to spend a lot of money on Sony stuff. I want a Sony eReader. (I’d love to win one from DA, but I’m actually happy to buy it) – but it’s not available in Australia and migrating is so expensive and disruptive to my family.
Oh, and no DRM please.
thank you
Kaetrin
PS – will sit on your knee if it will get me an eReader.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:31:29
I’m really kind of ambivalent about eReaders. At present, they seem to me prohibitively expensive, especially since I do the bulk of my reading via the public library and buy only books I am pretty sure I will want to keep. I can see the enormous advantages of eReaders, especially for publishers, and eventually for readers as well, but those advantages seem to be well in the future. I assume everything will eventually shake down and settle on a single format (the way BetaMax gave way to VCR tapes), and that the cost of the readers will come down (the way the cost of VCRs and computers did), and the cost of books will come down.
Why don’t publishers just give the eReaders away, creating a huge new market for their ebooks and thereby increasing the profit margin on ebooks, since it seems that most of the costs are fixed and will be the same whether they sell 50 copies or 50,000 copies.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:39:32
Yes, Santa, please. With Mac compatibility. Seriously. I would give a kidney for this. Want a kidney Mr Sony Santa?
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:41:10
You can download any pdf file to the Sony eReader and I have many from Ellora, Saimhiam and all of the other epubs. In fact the only files that I can not read on my Sony are the Amazon Kindle books. I have emailed them a number of times asking them if I can buy their ebooks and read them on my Sony and this is their response:
Greetings from Amazon.com.
Thank you for writing to us about reading content purchased from the Kindle Store on another eBook reader. At this time, you can only read content from the Kindle Store, such as books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs, on Amazon Kindle.
The Kindle Book Store books have Digital rights assigned. Kindle books are designed to be read on the Kindle reading device. To find out if an ebook has Digital Rights Management or available in a different format, you’ll need to contact the seller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So Amazon doesn’t get any of my money…when will they ever learn.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 16:57:53
Brilliant partnership, Jane. So glad to see Dear Author being appreciated for what it is, a clear and frank voice for all things Romance.
And, oh, just this weekend I was looking at the Sony 700 . . . sigh . . . (Of course, I was smart enough to have at least two near-and-dear family members along to hear said *sigh*.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 17:22:57
I think Sony should start including a plugin power cord for the reader instead of just the USB plug. It is a more expensive reader than others but doesn’t come with much–no cover, no plug.
I DO think you are on the right track not requiring Digital Right Management. That is the thing I hate the worst about Kindle. If it dies and I decide to buy a different type, all my purchases are gone! I hate the thought of investing in the amount of books I generally buy and then seeing them vanish if I need to change devices.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 19:40:54
How very cool!
So, did they give you 505s or 700s? I just love my 505. It goes everywhere with me.
And for Rhyss, it might just be possible to update the author/title “meta data” using Calibre. I’ve used Calibre to create Sony LRFs, but I’ve never tried updating meta data on existing DRM’d Sony books.
Dec 18, 2008 @ 22:40:55
Good for you guys! And an excellent move by the Sony folks. :) I’m most pleased for y’all.
Dec 19, 2008 @ 08:10:24
Well, Kaetrin’s doing a lap dance for one.
Dec 19, 2008 @ 10:45:45
Kaetrin – Dymocks in Australia carries the Cybook eBook Reader which is about the same size as a Sony Reader, in addition to the iRex. It reads Mobipocket format eBooks which are available at many eBook stores.
DA Direct carries the Cybook and HanLin V3 eBook readers as well as the iRex.
Hopefully one of these stores will help you join the ranks of eBook Reader owners. :)
See this site for other options of where to buy eBook Devices: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Where_to_Buy_eBook_Devices
Dec 19, 2008 @ 13:15:54
Congrats! Don’t need any more reviewers, do you?
Keep us up to date on how the giveaway will work.
Dec 19, 2008 @ 16:53:13
Oh that’s amazing news! Fabulous!
Dec 19, 2008 @ 18:12:04
You are evil… I just had to get me a Sony e-reader… had been itching to get one, even went to the Sony store at the mall to check out the red one… *sigh* Will be delivered before Christmas! *doing the Snoopy dance of joy*
Dec 19, 2008 @ 18:58:03
@Justy:
Do you know what the Hanlin V3 is like to use? It looks the best option for us downunder, but I’d like some first hand user reports on it.
Dec 20, 2008 @ 12:52:08
Wow, this is surprising news and really great of Sony to acknowledge Teh Internets.
@Ann Somerville: Avoid any eBook reader that lacks ePub file format capability. So far, only Sony Reader has it. (Well, Stanza on iPhone too.) ETASCO jetBook says they will have ePub next month, but I don’t know if that will apply to hardware currently on sale.
Dear Author’s Sony Partnership and Giveaway Details | Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary
Dec 21, 2008 @ 12:00:25
[...] you missed last week’s announcement, I thought I would bring you all up to date. The reviewers for Dear Author are being outfitted [...]